The Best Hotels in Key West of 2024

Sunset Key Cottages

Also available to book at Tripadvisor.com

If you’re looking for an island getaway from your island getaway, Sunset Key Cottages offers 40 upscale beachy cottages with up to four bedrooms, superior service, and a relaxing residential island location just a 7-minute boat journey from Old Town. This hotel earned a spot on our World’s Best Awards list in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

While the setting can be quite romantic, Sunset Key Cottages is a family-friendly and dog-friendly property. Cottages range between 700 to 2,500 square feet, so there’s room to spread out, and available activities run the gamut from sports courts and spa treatments to pool time and parasailing. Travelers who take advantage of all the property freebies like daily spirits tastings, fishing off the pier, use of the sports courts, poolside popsicles, and daily room-delivered breakfast (just to name a few) will get the most value out of the hefty daily resort fee.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Sunset Key
• Distance From Airport: 4 miles
• Rates: From $850
• Resort Fee: $250 per day
• Parking: Yes; $30 per day self-parking, $40 per day valet
• Pet Policy: $100 per night for up to two dogs weighing 30 pounds or less.

The Perry Hotel & Marina Key West

Also available to book at Expedia.com

The Perry Hotel & Marina Key West made our World’s Best Awards list in 2021. We love its Stock Island Marina location, particularly for travelers arriving by boat or looking for a more relaxed Key West experience not centered around the usual Duval Street haunts. This 100-room boutique hotel is somewhat of a Key West outlier, swapping out the island’s common Old Florida colors and aesthetic for an unexpected and sleek modern-industrial look featuring dark wood, grays, and iron accents throughout. Six room types offer options for a glittering marina and pool or lush mangrove view, open-air showers, and ADA accessibility. Flatscreen TVs, coffeemakers, unstocked mini-fridges, and private balconies come standard.

The daily resort fee covers expected on-site amenities like the pool, a great concierge service, and use of the fitness room, as well as convenient and fun extras like a very punctual hourly shuttle service to and from Old Town (travel time is about 20 minutes each way), welcome tipple of champagne, a daily drink, an EV charging station, and Saturday group yoga classes. Traveling with your pup? The dog-friendly pet policy has no weight restrictions, and there are two dog parks nearby.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Stock Island
• Distance From Airport: 3 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Stock Island Marina, Key West Golf Course, Robbie's of Key West, Hogfish Bar & Grill
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible parking, braille signage, assisted listening devices, wheelchair-accessible pathways, accessible rooms
• Rates: From $152
• Resort Fee: $50
• Parking: Yes; self-parking $27 per night
• Pet Policy: $75 per night for one dog, $25 for an additional dog with a maximum of 2 dogs.

Santa Maria Suites

Also available to book at Hotels.com

Santa Maria Suites is an all-suite boutique property with large two-bedroom suites clocking in at over 900 square feet. The contemporary apartment-style units have gourmet kitchens with high-end appliances and luxe granite countertops, separate bedrooms, and a furnished patio or balcony with pool or garden views.

Tropical garden grounds give guests a relaxing place to get away and decompress after a day out sightseeing. We love the attention to detail this small hotel brings to the table. For example, relaxing by the two heated pools is accompanied by ABV-free frozen drinks, chilled towels, cold bottled water, and fresh fruit. There’s also a free nightly happy hour, all-day muffins and ice cream, and access to beach facilities at the Southernmost Beach. This isn’t a typical hotel with multiple public spaces, but there is a restaurant serving Latin cuisine and a workout area with a few machines available for use.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Upper Duval
• Distance From Airport: 3.2 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Southernmost Point, Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Higgs Beach, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, South Beach
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible parking, pathways, and suites; ramps and pool entrance; visual and auditory alarms
• Rates: From $315
• Resort Fee: $40 per day
• Parking: Yes; self-parking $20 per night
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

Gardens Hotel

You can’t name your hotel after your gardens and not deliver. The Gardens Hotel may be located smack in the middle of Old Town, but this small, ultra-boutique hotel manages to deliver a beautiful sanctuary space filled with plants, birds, water features, and tranquility. Plus, they go the extra mile with eco-friendly practices from recycling to heating water with solar panels.

The atmosphere here is social in public spaces, and guests often chat over drinks at the pool or between songs at the Sunday night jazz performances. Rooms are spacious, but feature colonial-style furniture and decor which can feel dated, especially when compared to nearby competitors. But do those hotels have a self-serve wine gallery featuring over 30 wines from around the world? Probably not. Despite having two pools, free Wi-Fi, a stellar hot breakfast, prime location, and concierge services, Gardens Hotel remains resort fee-free.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Old Town Historic District
• Distance From Airport: 3.8 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Key West Dog Beach, Green Parrot Bar
• Accessibility: One ADA-accessible room with a ramp, wheelchair-accessible parking, pool lift, audio and visual alarms
• Rates: From $384
• Parking: Yes; $30 per night
• Pet Policy: $100 per night for one dog up to 20 pounds

Ocean Key Resort & Spa

This 2022 World’s Best Award-winning resort has an enviable location right on the water at the tippy-top of Duval Street, giving guests incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico and easy-as-pie access to the vibrancy of Key West’s main action. Ocean Key Resort & Spa has 100 rooms starting out at 300 square feet and features bright and boisterous contemporary decor, tiled floors, teak wood accents, private balconies, minibars, and stone bathrooms.

Upgrades to suites will double, triple, and quadruple your room size, but most in-room amenities stay the same. Whether you’re scoping out the sunset from your room, the pool, or the legendary Sunset Pier, you’ll have one of the best views on the island. However, these memorable waterfront views don’t have a beach, only seawall. Instead, guests soak up the sun at the pool. Food, drinks, and entertainment are available at the poolside bar, rooftop restaurant, and the Sunset Pier.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Old Town Historic District
• Distance From Airport: 4 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Key West Aquarium, Hemingway House and Museum, Duval Street, Mallory Square
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible rooms, pool lift, meeting spaces, public spaces, pathways, and elevators; braille signage in elevators, audio and visual alarms, TTY
• Rates: From $210
• Resort Fee: $56 per day (plus tax)
• Parking: Yes; valet parking $45 per night
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

The Marquesa

The Marquesa has lived many lives since it was built in 1884 and is currently listed as an Old Town historic landmark. As a hotel, the 414-room Marquesa now includes one newly-built house and two historic neighboring buildings, a Gothic carpenter-style cottage built in 1878, and a mansion-turned-guesthouse.

As you can imagine, the rooms across these buildings range widely in style, size, and design, including open-plan suites, gorgeous slanted ceilings, and hidden alcoves. That said, all rooms and suites have been meticulously renovated and feature contemporary comforts like big beds and Nespresso machines, with options for balconies, kitchenettes, and luxurious bathrooms with soaking tubs. Service here is personal and the staff really goes that extra mile, though the daily resort fee can seem a tad steep considering the on-site amenities are limited to the three lovely pools, Wi-Fi, a daily continental breakfast, and a 24-hour concierge.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Old Town Historic District
• Distance From Airport: 3.6 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Key West Lighthouse, Hemingway House and Museum, Duval Street, Mallory Square, Green Parrot Bar, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible rooms, braille room numbers, TTY, accessible restaurant and parking, audio and visual alarms
• Rates: From $292
• Resort Fee: $40 per day
• Parking: Yes; self-parking $25 (plus tax) per day
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

Oceans Edge Key West Resort & Marina

Also available to book at Expedia.com

Ocean’s Edge Key West Resort & Spa is a dockside resort on Stock Island. The full-service 165-slip marina makes it easy for you to tie-up and check in. The 175 rooms have a subtle and playful upscale nautical theme featuring bright white paneling, natural wood and navy-colored accents, and views overlooking the marina. While a lot of resorts focus on Key West’s history and main drag, this one encourages visitors to experience the resort’s natural side with activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, outdoor yoga classes, and bike rentals.

Boat charters are available through the hotel for private fishing excursions and scenic cruises, all departing straight from their docks. However, our favorite activity is the free one-hour eco-immersion experience where guests learn about the marine ecosystem from a local marine scientist. Guests can also expect their choice of six saltwater pools (with full service), a dock-to-dinner plate restaurant, daily happy hours and live music, and a free hourly shuttle service to Old Town. It’s no wonder this celebrated Key West resort made our World’s Best Awards list in 2022.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Stock Island
• Distance From Airport: 3.5 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Stock Island Marina, Key West Golf Course, Robbie's of Key West, Hogfish Bar & Grill
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible pathways, rooms, restaurants, and parking; visual and audio alarms, entrance lift, braille signage throughout, TTY
• Rates: From $184
• Resort Fee: $50 per day
• Parking: Yes; $27 (plus tax) per night
• Pet Policy: $70 for each dog up to 60 pounds with 2 maximum.

H20 Suites

H20 Suites is an all-suite hotel located two blocks from the Southernmost Point, just one block from Duval Street, offering an intimate and tranquil respite from the heavy traffic of Old Town. With just 22 suites, the service here feels extremely personal and guests can look forward to private outdoor space, stocked in-room wet bars, and Italian marble bathrooms.

Half of the suites feature private pools, and all have cosmopolitan-modern decor that feels a bit more Miami than Florida Keys. The snazzy rooftop pool and bar is a standout with great views and a happy hour to boot, and we appreciate the 24-hour front desk and concierge service. There’s also a small gym on property. The daily resort fee covers amenities like access to Southernmost Beach (plus beach set-up), a welcome drink, a nightly treat and turndown service, and bottled water. This is an adults-only hotel with a minimum age of 25.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Historic Old Town
• Distance From Airport: 3.3 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Southernmost Point, Hemingway House and Museum, Mallory Square, Truman Little White House
• Accessibility: Two ADA-accessible rooms; pathways, public spaces, pool lift, audio and visual alarms, communication kits for hearing-impaired
• Rates: From $348
• Resort Fee: $40 per night (plus tax)
• Parking: $20 per night with a limit of one car per room
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

The Capitana Key West

This waterfront beach boutique hotel has one huge advantage over most of the hotels in Key West — it has its own direct private beach access. The catch? It’s got a rough and rugged coral floor, which means no swimming, just lounging on the sand or in one of the hotel’s comfy cabanas. If you feel like a dip, the next best thing is the hotel’s saltwater pool, complete with ocean views and full service from the poolside tiki bar and restaurant.

Rooms are spacious and contemporary with soft, neutral beachy color palettes, comfy beds, and balconies with views of the Gulf of Mexico. Two-bedroom family suites can sleep up to seven, and springing for a cottage will get you over twice the amount of space and add a full kitchen and separate living room lounge area. Although this boutique hotel is family-friendly, it’s a popular spot for couples. Keep in mind that the New Town location is slightly out of the way — ideal if you’re trying to avoid crowds but not if you want to hit all the popular spots.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: New Town
• Distance From Airport: 2.8 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Smathers Beach, Key West Nature Preserve, Dredgers Key, Garrison Bight
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible rooms, chair lifts, pool lift, public spaces, and parking; visual alarms and TTY available
• Rates: From $293
• Resort Fee: $35 per day
• Parking: Yes; resort fee includes self-parking
• Pet Policy: $100 per dog per night, maximum of two dogs and 30 pounds

Simonton Court Historic Inn & Cottages

Simonton Court Historic Inn & Cottages offers up a taste of Key West in the island’s Old Florida style. If you’re looking for a cute and quaint bed and breakfast, this is your frontrunner. Here, 30 rooms are spread out across 10 buildings on five properties, including a set of historic cottages built in 1880, giving guests an intimate and secluded feel right in the center of bustling Old Town.

A word to the wise: fully investigate all the available rooms before booking — the five different properties have distinct characteristics and room types are very specific when it comes to location, floor level, and amenities. Some of our favorite details are the red brick pathways, painted wood decking, and the abundant tropical gardens that surround the property. Keep in mind that Simonton Court is an adults-only property and because of its historic nature is not very suitable for travelers requiring ramps or other accessible features. A wander through the leafy palms will bring you to the hotel’s four pools with poolside service, bike rental area, and, on Friday and Saturday afternoons, a social happy hour with discounted drinks and free snacks. There’s also a free (albeit light) continental breakfast available, but best of all there’s no resort fee!

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Historic Old Town
• Distance From Airport: 3.8 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Key West Dog Beach, Green Parrot Bar
• Accessibility: Very limited
• Rates: From $309
• Parking: Yes; reserved self-parking $30 per day (very limited)
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

The Hyatt Centric Key West has a bullseye location when it comes to being at the heart of the action. Guests at this 120-room hotel can expect the typical Hyatt Centric experience and style that aims to mix the familiarity of a big brand with the feeling of a local boutique hotel. Rooms are comfy with the standard features, and we love that every single one has a balcony that comes with a shade cover so guests can take advantage of sunny days (note that not all have ocean views).

Menus at the restaurant and bar add in local flavor and ingredients, the ocean-view pool is heated in chillier months, and there’s a nice on-site spa with tropical-leaning treatments. The daily resort fee includes fun extras like a two-hour bike rental for each guest, pool inflatables and treats, 24-hour gym access (including Peloton bikes), and off-site beach access — but doesn’t include parking.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Historic Seaport
• Distance From Airport: 4.1 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, Truman Little White House
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible rooms, parking, pool, public areas, pathways, and fitness center; TTY
• Rates: From $270
• Resort Fee: $55 per day (per room)
• Parking: Yes; $35 self-parking and $40 premium self-parking per night
• Pet Policy: $150 per stay for up to 6 nights/$300 per stay for 7 or more nights; two dogs maximum with one dog maximum weight of 50 pounds or two dogs maximum combined weight of 75 pounds.

Southernmost Beach Resort Key West

The Southernmost Beach Resort Key West has a notable location at the end of Duval Street, just a three-minute walk to South Beach and the Southernmost Point buoy. It’s a great family-friendly option for travelers looking for a quieter Key West experience without having to sacrifice walkability. Built in 1948, this 261-room resort underwent a $15-million-dollar update to nearly all of its rooms, the exterior, lobby, and one of its pools and pool bars which was unveiled in 2022.

While there are 11 different room types to choose from, they’re on the smaller side, ranging between 220 to 470 square feet. Robes, coffeemakers, welcome waters, and mini-fridges come standard with upgrades snagging extras like balconies, upgraded views, or an oceanfront location. Guests can enjoy three pools with ocean views, full service menus, live music, and adults-only tranquility, and a full-service beach club serving up food, drinks, and free beach set-ups. A note to those who like to sleep in: there are several resident roosters on the property that never take an early morning off from crowing.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Upper Duval
• Distance From Airport: 3.4 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Southernmost Point, Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Higgs Beach, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, South Beach, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
• Accessibility: ADA-accessible public spaces, pathways, elevator, parking, and rooms; TTY available, visual alarms, pool lift, braille signage in accessible rooms
• Rates: From $199
• Resort Fee: $56 per day (plus tax)
• Parking: Yes; self-parking for one vehicle per room at $42 (plus tax) per night
• Pet Policy: Not allowed

Alexander’s Guest House

Alexander’s Guest House is a 17-room guesthouse and one of Key West’s proudly gay-owned and -operated hotels. Originally built in 1902, this three-story conch-style house is now listed on the National List of Historic Places, but don’t let her age fool you — this gorgeous girl has immaculate style and a flawless beauty routine. Natural wood ceilings, bright white trim and paneling, matte black shutters, and loads of large windows bringing in natural light showcase architectural highlights, while stark white furniture, well-placed animal print rugs, and black and white awnings keep things looking contemporary and sophisticated.

The lush tropical grounds, a 24-hour pool and spa, included breakfast, and a convenient yet quiet Old Town location make Alexander’s a popular spot, but the fact that there’s no resort fee makes it a downright gem. Another feature worth mentioning about this adults-only hotel? There’s an upper-level sun deck — and it’s clothing-optional.

The Details:

• Neighborhood: Old Town Historic District
• Distance From Airport: 3.5 miles from EYW
• Nearby Attractions: Duval Street, Mallory Square, Historic Seaport, Key West Aquarium
• Accessibility: Parking spot, public spaces, guest room; visual and audio accessible features available for all rooms
• Rates: From $295
• Parking: No
• Pet Policy: Not allowed